Owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, there is a global shortage of masks needed to protect health care personnel.1,2 The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has suggested the potential reuse of disposable respirators to conserve available supplies.3 A study by Viscusi et al4 evaluated various sterilization methods for reuse of N95 masks. Although surgical masks should not be used as a substitute for N95s owing to lower fit quality,5 a randomized clinical trail by Radonovich et al6 found that there was no significant difference in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza among health care personnel who used N95s vs surgical face masks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed KN95 masks (the Chinese version of the N95) as suitable alternatives to N95s when N95s are not available. However, to our knowledge, there are no studies regarding the effects of sterilization on the filtration efficiencies of KN95s or surgical face masks. The goal of this quality improvement study was to test the feasibility of reusing KN95s and surgical masks.
The University of Oklahoma institutional review board determined that this study was not human research and was exempt from informed consent. This study is reported following the Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE) reporting guideline. This study was conducted from March 25 to April 7, 2020.
We compared sterilization by plasma vapor hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and a chlorine dioxide solution, Vital Oxide, on the filtration efficiencies of 3 types of masks, N95s (model 1860; 3M), KN95s (Civilian Antivirus; Qingdao Sophti Health Technology), and surgical face masks (model 1541; Dukal). Experiments were conducted using the test chamber illustrated in eFigure 1 in the Supplement. A stable salt aerosol (eFigure 2 in the Supplement) was generated using a 3-jet Collison nebulizer (CH Technologies) and 2% sodium chloride solution in accordance with National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health procedure No. TEB-APR-STP-0059. A scanning mobility particle sizer (model 3936; TSI) was used to measure the particle number concentration from 16.8 nm to 514 nm. All masks were preconditioned in an incubator at 38 °C and 100% relative humidity for 12 hours. For each mask, 5 samples were tested with 4 upstream measurements and 4 downstream measurements. Acceptable pressure drop was defined as less than 35 mm or 1.38 inch water for inhalation. We calculated the mean and SD of filtration efficiency and pressure drop for each type mask.
The effects of sterilization on overall filtration efficiency and pressure drop are summarized in Figure 1. The mean (SD) filtration efficiencies of untreated masks were 97.3% (0.4%) for N95s, 96.7% (1.0%) for KN95s, and 95.1% (1.6%) for surgical face masks. After H2O2 sterilization, the filtration efficiencies were 96.6% (1.0%) for N95s, 97.1% (2.4%) for KN95s, and 91.6% (1.0%) for surgical face masks. The N95s and KN95s retained at least 95% efficiency, but the surgical face mask’s efficiency was reduced. After sterilization with the chlorine dioxide solution, the filtration efficiencies were 95.1% (1.6%) for N95s, 76.2% (2.7%) for KN95s, and 77.9% (3.4%) for surgical face masks. The H2O2 treatment showed a small effect on the overall filtration efficiency of the tested masks, but the chlorine dioxide solution treatment showed marked reduction in the overall filtration efficiency of the KN95s and surgical face masks. All pressure drop changes were within the acceptable range.
The effects of sterilization on filtration efficiency by aerosol size are presented in Figure 2. For all untreated masks, the filtration efficiencies by size were more than 95%. For N95s after sterilization with the chlorine dioxide solution, the mean (SD) filtration efficiency for particles of approximately 300 nm decreased to approximately 86.2% (6.8%), although the overall filtration efficiency was retained at approximately 95%. Therefore, caution should be exercised when using this mask under this condition. The mean (SD) filtration efficiencies decreased to 40.8% (5.9%) for KN95s and 47.1% (14.4%) for surgical face masks for particles of approximately 300 nm.
This quality improvement study found that the sterilization processes had different effects on the filtration efficiencies of different masks. Sterilization with H2O2 had fewer negative effects than the chlorine dioxide solution. In addition to considering the overall filtration efficiency, the filtration efficiency for particles similar to infectious agents should be considered. This study has some limitations, including the small variety of mask manufacturers, small sample sizes for each mask and condition, and only 2 sterilization techniques evaluated. In addition, this study only compared the filtration efficiency after 1 sterilization cycle; however, filter material may degrade further after multiple cycles, which should also be investigated. To better protect health care personnel in hospitals, we recommend measuring the respirator’s filtration efficiency by aerosol size instead of only measuring the overall filtration efficiency.
Accepted for Publication: May 19, 2020.
Published: June 15, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.12099
Correction: This article was corrected on August 14, 2020, to clarify that the chlorine dioxide solution used was Vital Oxide.
Open Access: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC-BY License. © 2020 Cai C et al. JAMA Network Open.
Corresponding Author: Changjie Cai, PhD, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, University of Oklahoma, 801 NE 13th St, Room 431, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 (changjie-cai@ouhsc.edu).
Author Contributions: Drs Cai and Floyd had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.
Concept and design: Both authors.
Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: Both authors.
Drafting of the manuscript: Cai.
Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Both authors.
Statistical analysis: Cai.
Obtained funding: Both authors.
Administrative, technical, or material support: Both authors.
Supervision: Both authors.
Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.
Funding/Support: This study was supported by the Oklahoma State Department of Health to establish this testing program; the supply chain logistics group at the University of Oklahoma Medicine, which provided the respirators and sterilization treatments; and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center VPR’s office through a COVID-19 Rapid Response pilot grant.
Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The funders were involved in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, and approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
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